Thanks to the way the calendar falls this year, Canadian Thanksgiving is as late as humanly possible. I think we all need a mid-October break, yes? New Music Friday is here to help with some long weekend music recommendations.

Singles

1. The Cure, A Fragile Thing (Polydor/UMC)

By all indications, the upcoming Cure album, Songs for a Lost World (due November 1), is going to be a monster. Everything we’ve heard so far (well, a couple of tracks) has been magnificent and my contacts in the music world who have heard more from the record say it’s great. I can’t wait. This is officially the second advance single.

 

2. Kim Deal, A Good Time Pushed (4AD)

The one-time Pixies bassist and co-founder of The Breeders is getting closer to releasing her first solo album, Nobody Loves You More (due November 23). This new advance single is part Pixies, part Breeders, and wonderfully melodic. Engineering for the track was done by the late Steve Albini.

3. Kim Gordon, Bangin’ on the Freeway (Matador)

The one-time Sonic Youth bass player has released a deluxe edition of her solo album, The Collective, which features new songs like this. As you listen to this, remember that Kim is 71-years-old. And as you watch the video, note that it was directed by her daughter Coco.

4. JJ Wilde, Mess to Make (Frontside)

JJ Wilde has turned into one of Canada’s most formidable solo singers. Her latest album, Vices, had her out on the road all summer and will keep her playing live through to the end of November with a cross-Canada tour starting in Victoria on October 23.

5. Wage War, BLUR (Fearless Records/Concord)

More emo-y metalcore (the resurrection of emo continues) from this group from Ocala, Florida. Stigma, their fifth studio album, was released back in June, but it still has legs. This is the fourth single from the record.

Albums

1. The Last Dinner Party, Prelude to Ecstasy: Acoustics and Covers (Island)

The Last Dinner Party, five English women who have blended alt-rock with the baroque, is one of the sensations of 2024. Their debut album, Prelude to Ecstasy, was released back in February. Now that the band has blown up, management and their label need to buy time so the group can pull together a sophomore release. A tried and true way to do this is to release a stopgap album filled with acoustic versions, covers, and other ephemera. (Think Pisces Iscariot from the Smashing Pumpkins or The Smiths’ Hatful of Hollow). That’s what we have here: a 21-track album of some interesting unreleased material, including this cover of a classic by Sparks.

2. The Linda Lindas, No Obligation (Epitaph)

The adorable moppets from L.A.–only a couple are old enough to drive–are out with a second album, which happens to be produced by the father of one of the members and an uncle of two more. This single features Weird Al on accordion because…well, why not?

3. The Offspring, SUPERCHARGED (Concord)

Recorded in Vancouver with Canadian super-producer Bob Rock, The Offspring continues their 40th year of existence with their eleventh studio album. It’s also the first with new drummer Brandon Pertzborn (the band has gone through as many drummers as Spinal Tap), although journeyman Josh Freese also plays on a few songs. Meanwhile, singer Dexter Holland is your bass player, even though Todd Morse has been welcomed as a full-time member.

4. Propaganda, Far Away With You (Compass)

If you were at all into the synth scene back in the 1980s, you might remember this German group featuring singer Claudia Brücken. Back then, they recorded for the ZTT label (home also to Frankie Goes to Hollywood and The Art of Noise) and released a brilliant album in 1985 called A Secret Wish. There was a second album in 1990 entitled 1234. And then after that…nothing. Well, there were a couple of one-off singles, reissues, and something from group trading as xPropaganda, but no proper album. How does a band come back with their first album in 34 years? Let’s find out.

© 2024 Corus Radio, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.

For some people, history is dry and boring, consisting of nothing but dates and wars and dusty facts about things that don’t have anything to do with life today, And yes, that can be true. But history also helps us understand why things are the way they are: study the past, understand the present, and maybe predict the future—at least to some extent.

But history can also be stupid, and when it is, it can make learning fun. In addition to all the dates and wars and famous people, I think we need to stupid history’s stupid bits. Let me give you an example.

On July 12, 1855, S.B. Howe’s Star Troup Menagerie and Circus pulled into Toronto. Tents were set up in an area called Fair Green on the shore of Lake Ontario. The plan was to spend two days in town entertaining crowds with exotic animals, acrobats, trick riders, and clowns.

But in 1855, circuses were viewed with suspicion. All these itinerant people, living on the margins of society, often included plenty of drunks, gamblers, and sex workers. The threat of violence was always present. It wasn’t uncommon for a night at the circus to be filled with brawls.

Toronto was pretty rough back then, especially when it came to brothels. There were a lot of them. with one of the most popular owned by Mary Ann Armstrong on King Street West.

When the first day of S.B. Howe’s Star Troup Menagerie and Circus concluded, the clowns went to Mary Ann Armstrong’s to blow off steam. That’s when they ran into a bunch of local firefighters. They liked to get into fights/

Details are a bit sketchy, but one of the clowns either knocked off a fireman’s hat or a clown cut in line…whatever the case, a major brawl broke out: clowns vs. firefighters. The clowns won. The firefighters were forced to pull back and retreat.

However, July 12, 1855, was also the day of a big parade by the Orange Order, a group of Irish Protestants celebrating a victory over Irish Catholics back in the 1600s. At the time, a huge majority of Toronto civil servants were both Irish and Orangemen.

Word spread of the clowns kicking the firemen’s asses at the whorehouse. So on the second day of S.B. Howe’s Star Troup Menagerie and Circus, a large, angry crowd gathered at Fair Green.

It wasn’t long before things boiled over. Rocks were thrown, tents were set on fire, and members of the circus ran for their lives. The police were called, but they were mostly Orangemen, too. Instead of trying to stop things, the cops joined in.

It was an insane riot: clowns vs. firefighters. It wasn’t until the Mayor George Allan stepped in—personally, too. He went down to Fair Green to administer some whoop-ass himself—that the great Toronto clown riot of 1855 came to an end.

Isn’t that ridiculous? See why I consider that an example of “stupid history.” If they taught this kind of thing in school, people would have a much greater interest in stories of the past. Such information gives us a deeper understanding of just how messed up humans can be.

We can do this with music, too. I call this episode “Stupid History: The Music Version.”

Songs heard on this show:

• Arrogant Worms, History is Made By Stupid People
• Falco, Rock Me Amadeus
• The Stooges, Search and Destroy
• U2, Even Better Than the Real Thing (Live)
• Pearl Jam, Better Man
• Nirvana, Scentless Apprentice
• Sigue Sigue Sputnik, Love Missile F1-11
• Happy Mondays, Loose Fit
• Sex Pistols, Anarchy in the UK

Here’s Eric Wilhite’s official playlist for this episode.

The Ongoing History of New Music can be heard on the following stations:

• 102.1 The Edge/Toronto – Sunday night at 7pm
• Q107/Toronto – Sunday night at 9pm
• Live 88-5/Ottawa – Saturdays at 9am and Sundays at 6pm.
• 107.5 Dave-FM/Kitchener – Sunday nights at 11pm
• FM96/London – Sunday nights at 8pm
• Power 97/Winnipeg – Sunday nights at 10am and 10pm
• 107-3 The Edge/Calgary – Sundays at 10am and 10pm
• Sonic 102.9/Edmonton – Sunday at 8am and 8pm
• The Zone/Victoria – Sunday at 8am and 9pm
• The Fox/Vancouver – Sunday at 11pm
• Surge 105/Halifax – Sunday at 7pm
• WAPS/WKTL The Summit/Arkon, Canton, Cleveland, Youngstown – Mon-Fri at 9pm

 

© 2024 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.

According to a study conducted by McMaster University in Hamilton, there are some very important and powerful neurological reasons why we crave bass in our music. It all comes down to how our brains appreciate rhythm. We get the beat better if it happens in lower tones.

Researchers tested people hooked up to an EEG monitor and had them listen to two piano notes—one high-pitched and the other low-pitched. The notes were played together in a rhythm, but every once in a while, one of the notes was played just a fraction of a second too early. People had a much easier time readjusting to the rhythm when the low note was played wrong, suggesting that without adequate bass, we get lost in the music and unable to get into the groove as well or as deeply. \

So yes, it is all about that bass.

© 2024 Corus Radio, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.

In a province built on natural resources, the mining industry is a vital piece of the Saskatchewan economy.

But so far on the campaign trail, there haven’t been specific promises made to support continued growth from the major political parties.

Global News’ Gates Guarin spoke with an industry expert and someone who is taking advantage of a booming industry to hear first hand of the impact of mining in the province.

Check out the video at the top for the full story.

© 2024 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.

The Fraternal Order of Eagles in Regina will soon be moved out of their home, as a recently-approved emergency shelter by city council is set to move into the location.

Where they go from here remains a mystery, but they’re staying hopeful as they face the unknown.

The Eagles Club has called 1600 Halifax St. home since 1985, when their members built it from the ground up.

“When you take a look around and you see the improvements that were done to a lumber yard, (the results) are pretty good,” Bill Gray, the Eagles Club secretary said. “Unfortunately, that legacy is done. There’s probably no recovering from that and so we get to I guess find someplace else and try and trudge on to the future.”

On Nov. 30, the club will be moved out of the building for the new shelter. But the exit strategy is still up in the air as they have yet to identify a new home.

“We all know (the change) is for a good cause, but I think the community is being broken up a little bit,” Eagles Club member Michele Foraie said. “We’re all hopeful that we can continue on in another location.”

Foraie is one of 644 members who call the club home.

“We’re trying to come here as much as we possibly can to support the club and help out in any way that we can,” Foraie went on to say.

For Gray, part of the frustrations with leaving the location come down to members and staff.

“It’s just the human aspect of it,” Gray said. “Like our members — they have no place to go just yet. There’s lots of places to go but not the Eagles Club. Our servers, our cooks and our staff…they’ll have to find employment somewhere else which is sad.”

Tara Regan is one of those servers.

“It’s very upsetting,” Regan said. “This place became home, so it is kind of upsetting to have to leave. But it is what it is.”

Time is ticking for the non-profit. If they hope to remain a club, they will need to hold meetings, a location and more. And with hundreds of people waiting for a place to go, it could be a challenge. But they remain optimistic.

“We’re always hopeful. We gotta stay positive,” Grey said.

© 2024 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.

As the cost of living rises, local businesses are working with families to offer used and refurbished sports gear for children.

In Lethbridge, a parent can expect to spend around $900 per child per season on registration fees for hockey, according to Lethbridge Minor Hockey.

“Every penny matters right now as well, especially in this economy,” said Suketu Shah, a parent with a child in hockey. “(My partner and I) are both working, still (the prices) make it hard. I can understand for people who are only single parents, only one parent who works as well, (if) you want to put your kids (in hockey).”

Shah also works as the executive director of Every Voice Matters in Lethbridge, a group that aims to provide affordable options for parents in the community.

According to Keith Hitchcock, the general manager of Lethbridge Minor Hockey, smaller communities are seeing “teams deleted” because of high equipment fees.

“You’re probably looking at another thousand dollars, or a little more, in skates, shin pads and pants, things like that,” said Hitchcock.

He says hockey is Canada’s national pastime, having grown up around the sport. As a result, Hitchcock says it’s important for the sport to persist despite the rising costs.

“It allows the team building, it allows you to be with your friends,” said Hitchcock. “Having that ability to play with teammates and be around other kids, it’s good for the kids.”

Likewise, Shah says sports offer his son a chance to have a life outside of school.

“Hockey at least keeps him busy in the sports, rather than just (his) studies. It helps him focus more because he has something else to do as well,” said Shah.

This sentiment has followed one local sports equipment dealer for years.

“I once had a person tell me that high school sports were not important and I passionately disagreed with this person,” said Daniel Court, the hockey director with Bert & Mac’s Source for Sports in Lethbridge.

He has been with the local business for around 20 years. In this time, he says getting kids on the ice, court or field is the most important thing his job allows.

“Even I, who works here, would probably buy used before a lot of the new stuff that we sell just because my kids grow really fast.”

He says this idea is not lost on his customers and the refurbished side of the store has seen significant growth in recent years.

“We’ve seen a huge surge on our used program,” said Court. “People bringing stuff in to trade in to make their purchase a little bit lighter when they do go out the door. Of course, the family coming in for used gear, or just gear in general, it’s a good avenue, especially with children growing so fast.”

Beyond skates and gloves, sticks can be a serious cost that can easily snap from a slapshot. This is where Integrity Hockey comes into play.

“We’re just here to help the everyday people and get everybody out on the ice playing hockey, that’s all,” said Lee Green, who operates Integrity Hockey in Lethbridge.

By refurbishing sticks to create what his wife, Merrill, calls “frankensticks”, Integrity Hockey can reduce the stress on landfills while also selling usable sticks to kids for a fraction of the cost.

This gives hope to parents who may be struggling with the cost.

“Any people coming together will help kids at the end of the day,” said Shah.

Bert & Mac’s accepts trade in of useable gear. Meanwhile, Every Voice Matters requests donations of sports gear or any other form of clothing. Items can be dropped off at the Lethbridge Police Station, Lethbridge Kia and Great Clips on the south or west side.

© 2024 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.

A group of concerned residents in Hope, B.C., got together recently to take part in a huge community cleanup.

For two days, more than 50 volunteers and more than a dozen businesses teamed up to clean up homeless camps that the RCMP had cleared out on Silver Skagit Road, south of Hope.

They used their hands and heavy equipment to remove everything they could.

Dusty Smith, owner of Silver Skagit Mechanical and a district councillor, has lived his entire life in Hope.

“In the last eight years, I’d say this is just growing into a bigger problem in all these three different areas that we just tackled,” he said.

“Once we got our heads in, there was crazy how much stuff we’ve seen.”

Smith said there was some criminality going on in the encampments and the group wanted to be part of the cleanup of what was left behind.

He said they ended up getting it all cleaned.

“It’s just unreal on how many people came together and the weather wasn’t great yesterday, so getting people out and staying out here with us was phenomenal,” Smith added.

He said they probably have one more day’s work ahead of them to restore the area for residents and visitors.

Smith said part of the issue is the land is located within the regional district but it’s on the edge of the District of Hope and B.C. Parks land.

“But it seems like provincial government and all the governments don’t want to touch it because, again, of the costs and everything that’s involved in it,” he said.

“So now it’s coming down onto the private sector a little bit, which is fine, but we want to get in here and cleaned up so that people can start using this area more.”

Smith said the community has been positive about the operation, and those who couldn’t volunteer their time, donated or helped with food and coffee.

“I can’t thank volunteers enough,” he added. “It’s unfortunate it comes down to volunteers to have this situation get cleaned up. But if you don’t get on top of it now while you have the opportunity, it’ll just keep compounding.”

Renee Coghill, who has lived in Hope for about 17 years and is a fishing and hiking guide in the region, told Global News that she wanted to help clean the area.

“Once you actually got into the forest here and saw what was piling up, it was kind of devastating and sad, really,” she said.

“I think (Tuesday) the initial reaction was overwhelming. We really kind of looked at everything and looked at each other and we were like, ‘are we going to get this done?'” she said.

“But, you know, people were working together, smiling, getting it done. And every time we chipped through another section, you know, it kind of encouraged you to keep going and finish up.”

Coghill said there were some stolen items found in the forest, which was disheartening.

“It’s hard to see this kind of stuff in our backyard,” she added.

Daryn Barry, a maintenance manager at Valley Helicopters, also said the situation was “overwhelming.”

“I’ve driven up here quite a bit and you could look in over the banks and see how bad it was,” he said.

“But until you came in and really saw the impact on the natural environment, it was pretty upsetting.”

Barry asked the owner of Valley Helicopters to help out and said they were happy to do it.

“When we showed up, everybody, it seemed like everybody there just had the same love for the environment, same compassion needed for the people that were affected,” he said.

“There was no real issues going on between the groups of people and everybody just got together and kind of had the same thing in mind to get our nature back to where it is and try not to impact the individuals involved as much as we can right now.”

© 2024 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.

A crowd of people walked from Winnipeg’s West End to The Forks on Thursday in honour of Tanya Nepinak.

Nepinak was a 31-year-old mother who was last seen on Sept. 13, 2011, on Sherbrook Street. The walk on Thursday fell on Nepinak’s birthday, bringing mixed emotions to her aunt, Sue Caribou.

“She would have been 45 today, and we’re taking back her birthday,” said Caribou, adding that her family received devastating news on Nepinak’s birthday in 2013 that police had called off a landfill search for her body.

“I’ve been crying, I’ve been overwhelmed. A lot of mixed feelings.”

In 2012, police charged Shawn Lamb with second-degree murder in Nepinak’s death, but those charges were later stayed. Lamb was convicted of manslaughter in the deaths of two other women, Lorna Blacksmith and Carolyn Sinclair.

“It’s just sad that we continuously have to come out there and bring awareness to the fact that she’s still there and we hope that one day we get her back,” said Diane Bousquet, who was taking part in Thursday’s march.

Nepinak’s remains have never been found. Winnipeg police previously said they believed her body was dumped in a garbage bin and her remains are in the Brady Road landfill. Officers spent about a week searching the landfill for Nepinak’s remains in 2012, but they were never found.

“The landfills should be considered as crime scenes because there are human remains up there, and they keep putting trash on top of (it),” Caribou said.

Thursday’s walk ended with a gathering in the Oodena Celebration Circle at The Forks, and a celebration to mark Nepinak’s birthday and honour her memory.

“I have a bit of hope that she’s somewhere,” Caribou said.

“We’re always hoping. We can’t give up on our loved one.”

© 2024 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.

Poise, discipline and strength are some of the first things that usually come to mind when thinking of a ballet dancer.

Those are characteristics of the professional dancers at Mission Dance Centre and Company in Kelowna, B.C., who are pushing themselves to new limits in their upcoming show, ‘Artistico’.

“It’s an interesting experience, I find between every piece I always need to take a minute to shift my mindset, especially when you are going from piece to piece with different storylines you can’t just tell the story you have to feel the story,” said Laika Wintermute, who is one of the professional dancers at the Mission Dance Centre and Company.

The performance blends classical ballet with neoclassical and flamenco, highlighting its four principal ballet dancers who are ushering in a new era for the expanding company.

“The Okanagan is just a beautiful place to grow for artists and this company’s purpose is not just to bring amazing works to the stage, but also to bring opportunities for the dancers that wouldn’t normally have a job performing,” said Tanya Vadurova, artistic director at Mission Dance Centre and Company.

Vadurova says that many dancers have to leave the region to get contracts or continue to grow and she hopes to provide more opportunities for dancers to stay in the region in the future.

One of the dancers she has trained is Dante Grootjes, who now studies at the Royal Winnipeg Ballet School and is returning home to join the performance.

“I think this time around, I am bringing more experience. I am not relying solely on my artistry like I was before,” said Grootjes.

“Now I am more experienced with technique, ways of thinking and confidence for sure.”

Gootjes will be able to show off what he has learned so far and share it with the other dancers at their upcoming performance on Oct. 13th at the Kelowna Community Theatre. Tickets are still available online at theatre.kelowna.ca

© 2024 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.

The Barker family farm, just 30 minutes south of North Battleford, Sask., will soon be passed down to the third generation.

Scott Barker’s father started the farm in the 1940s, and now Scott’s 15-year-old son, Jacob Barker, is expressing interest in taking over the farm one day.

“My dad would be very proud of his grandson who got to farm what he farmed, too,” said Scott.

Jacob says he plans to go to post-secondary school and learn more from his father before fully assuming the farm.

“I want to learn more of spraying, like spraying the crop for weeds,” said Jacob.

Both father and son are busy with harvest this season, with Jacob learning the ropes.

“It’s the first year he’s really had an active role at harvest,” said Scott.

“There’s definitely more big farms coming in that maybe try to buy up land,” Scott said, saying there are more big industry farms popping up around Saskatchewan, but still lots of family farms around.

Jacob said carrying on the family legacy is important to him, “Just to carry on the generations.”

© 2024 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.